THE ROMANTIC AGE OF

ENGLISH LITERATURE
(1798- 1837)

Course Instrutor
Rabia Javed
CONTENT

• Introduction to Romantic age

• Historical events
• Characteristics of Romantic Age
• Major poets of Romantic Age and their
contributions

• Major essayists and their contributions

• Major novelists and thier contributions

Romanticism: A Literary and Artistic

Movement
Romanticism was a school of thought, an artistic, literary, and
intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the
end of the 18th century and early 19th Century
It was a reaction against Classicism and Neo-classicism
This age was officially begun in 1798, when William
Wordsworth and S.T. Coleridge published the collection of
poems (Anthology) entitled Lyrical Ballads
As a historical phase of literature, English Romanticism
extends from Blake's earliest poems up to the beginning of the
Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794).
Key Events of the Romantic Age

1 Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of major
technological advancements, particularly in Great Britain,
that began in the late 18th century and continued into the
19th century. It brought about significant changes in
society, including urbanization, new forms of labor, and
the rise of factories.
2
American Independence
The American Revolution (1776-1783) was a pivotal
event in world history, marking the birth of the United
States of America. It was a struggle for independence
from British rule, fueled by ideals of liberty and self-
governance.
3 French Revolution
The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a period of
profound social and political upheaval in France. It led to
the overthrow of the monarchy, the establishment of a
republic, and the spread of revolutionary ideas across
Europe.
Characteristics of Romantic Poetry

• Simple language
• Imagination
• Rustic life
• Beauty
• Opposite to classicism
• Subjectivity
• Feelings, emotions
• Self expression
• Nature
• Supernaturalism
William Blake: A Visionary Romantic

Early Works Significant Works Legacy

Blake's first printed work, 1. Songs of Innocence (1789) William Blake is

"Poetical Sketches," was 2. Songs of Experience (1794) considered a seminal
a collection of apprentice figure in the history of
3. The Marriage of
work, mostly imitating poetry and visual arts of
Heaven and Hell
classical moods. The the Romantic Age. His
(1790-93)
poems protest against works continue to inspire
war, tyranny, and King and challenge readers and
George III's treatment of viewers today.
the American colonies.
The Lake Poets

William Wordsworth (1770- 1850)

S.T. Coleridge (1772-1834)

Robert Southey (1774-1843)

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
• William Wordsworth considered one the most significant poets of English literature
• He was born in Cockermouth Cumberland on 7th April 1770. This legendary poet departed
from this world on 23rd April 1850.

• He stood against many great poets like Dryden, Pope and Johnson
“He decleared poet is a man endowed with more sensibility, more enthusiasm, and tenderness,
who has a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soul, than are
supposed to be common among mankind”
• He revolt againsts his predecessores due to their rigid intellectually and sophistication by
defining poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling which takes its origin from
emotions and recollected in tranquality”
• His poetry deals with feelings, emotions, and imagination, he devoided strict rules or
structure.
• Nature, spirituality, memory, innocence, immortality, beauty remained prominant themes of
his poetry
Titles given to Him

• Poet of the Nature

• Poet Laureate (1843)
• Lake poet
• Father of Romanticism
William Wordsworth: The Poet of Nature

Childhood in Nature
Wordsworth's childhood was spent in nature's lap, which deeply
influenced his poetry. He felt a profound connection to the natural
world and saw it as a source of inspiration, guidance, and moral
instruction
“Nature never betrays those who truely love her”
Nature as a Living Entity and inspiration
Wordsworth perceived nature as a living entity, believing that a divine
spirit existed in all natural objects. He saw nature as a source of joy,
beauty, and spiritual connection and inspiration.
“To me the meanest flower that blossom can give
Thought that do often lie too deep for tears”
Moral Influence of Nature
Wordsworth emphasized the moral influence of nature. He believed
that nature could inspire, guide, and teach us about ourselves and the
world around us. According to him nature inspire us, guides us and
teaches us.
Wordsworth as a Panthiest
Wordsworth spiritulized nature, and he worshiped nature. he described
nature as the best mother, guardian and nurse of man. Wordsworth
believed that we can learn more of man and of moral evil and good
from experience on nature.
Literary Contibution of William Wordsworth

• The Lyrical Ballads (1798)
• Preface to Lyrical Ballads
• The Prelude (1805- 1850, contains 14 books)
• Daffodils (1807)
• Lucy Gray (1800)
• Solitary Reaper (1803)
• London or To Milton-sonnet (1794)
• Tintern Abbey (1798)
• ode to Intimition of Immotality (18020
• 0de 0n Duty
• Westminister Bridge
• The world is too much with us (1802)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772- 1834)

• ST Coleridge was born in Devonshire in 1772 and died in 1834.

• Studied in Christ’s Hospital school in london and then in cambridge
• He was not a graduate
• He was a significant poet, critic and philosopher who with his friend William Wordsworth were
the founder Romantic Movement in England
• 1797: Coleridge met Wordsworth, he inspired from Wordsworth poetic genius

• 1798: publication of Lyrical Ballad brought fame to both friends

• Wordsworth :“He was the most wonderful man that I have ever known”
• He also visited to Germany with his friend Wordsworth

• After some months Coleridge fell ill and took heavy dose of opium

• “Like a charm, like a miracle. I recovered the use of limbs, of my appetite, of my spirits”

• Continuous used of opium lead him into the melancholy and depression of the spirits.
• In the last age he began to take opium in larger quantity

• 1834: in the evening his voice became inaudible and felt into a state of consciousness.
S.T. Coleridge: The Master of the
Supernatural

Supernatural Elements
Coleridge introduced supernatural elements, characters, and
events into his poetry. He explored the darker side of nature
and the power of the imagination to create fantastical worlds.

Primary and Secondary Imagination

Coleridge developed the concept of primary and secondary
imagination. Primary imagination is the power of perception,
while secondary imagination is the creative power of the mind
to shape and transform reality.

The Ideal in the Real

Coleridge believed that the ideal world of "ideas" was reflected
in the material world. He saw natural images as carrying
abstract meaning and representing the presence of the ideal in
ST Coleridge’s Contribution

1798: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the collection of lyrical Ballads.
1811: Lectures on Shakespeare.
1816: Christabel, a narrative poem.
1816: Kubla Khan, the dream like poem composed under the influence of opium
1817: Biographia Literaria, critical work and autobiography.
Robert Southey (1774-1843)

He was the third poet of the group of Lake Poets. Additionally, Robert
Southey was also a literary scholar, essay writer, historian and biographer. His
biographies include the life and works of John Bunyan, John Wesley, William
Cowper, Oliver Cromwell and Horatio Nelson.
LITERARY WORKS OF ROBERT SOUTHEY

A Vision of Judgment ( 1821 )

Life of Cromwell ( 1821 )
Thomas More ( 1829 )
The Doctors (1834)
 Lives of Bunyan (1846)
Thalaba